Deductive/inductive reasoning

Types of reasoning often used to ground various approaches to social science research. Deductive reasoning moves from general theory down to particular examples, while inductive reasoning moves from particular examples up to general theory. In social science research, methods that rely on deductive reasoning start with a theory, which is narrowed to a testable hypothesis . Data is then collected and analysed to see if the hypothesis can be confirmed and the theory, substantiated. For example, say you hypothesize that one cause of divorce is women feeling unfulfilled by an identity of wife and mother. Deduction would involve collecting data, say from a survey that asks ...

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